NAILS' Annual Self-Portrait Nail Art Contest

Because nail artists never tire of a challenge -- and never cease to amaze -- we're always trying to push them to create new masterpieces. In this gallery, view the self-portraits of top nail artists: how they see themselves, on the tip of a nail. If you'd like more information on the NAILS Self-Portrait contest, or more information about upcoming nail art contests, email Judy Lessin at judy.lessin@bobit.com.

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Tags: NAIL ART

Iron Techs: Creative Techs Work with What They're Given

We gave 10 innovative nails techs a hodge-podge of items and instructed them to create five nail tips using only the items in their box full of goodies. As you can see, each tech has a specialty, and all came away with different creations using exactly the same materials.

The fun of the Food Network’s “Iron Chef” isn’t necessarily seeing who the winner is; the show’s real success comes because everyone enjoys seeing experts at the top of their game using their creative juices to produce an amazing feast. Taking that same idea, we gave 10 techs a box of supplies to see what their out-there thinking could produce. Their instructions were simple: Use the tips and at least some of the acrylics. Then use seven of the other 10 items to create five nail tips.

The iron techs were supplied with 10 tips from Nailite; CND’s Retention Starter Kit (with a clear acrylic added for this project); polish from OPI, Essie, and Orly; three metallic stripers from It’s So Easy; two sets of nail decals from Cina; and two packs of Imagination Art Supplies from Young Nails. All of these were packaged in a ruby polyprop purse from Action Bag Company. As soon as they received their kits, our techs were eager to get started!

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Tags: CND, ESSIE COSMETICS, IT'S SO EASY, NAIL ART, NAILITE, OPI PRODUCTS, YOUNG NAILS

Here Comes the Bridal Nail Art

Seven nail artists were asked to create a range of designs for brides-to-be using the most popular wedding themes — beach, country, fantasy, and garden.  Taking into account the varying levels of every bride's personal style, they've created designs from “simple” (any bride would feel comfortable wearing), to “middle of the road” (some brides would prefer) to “out there" (adventurous nails that most brides wouldn’t wear — but they’d look amazing if they did!).

Our Nail Artists:  AMY TOMLINSON, At Your Fingertips, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada; ANGELA JONES, Beauti Fetish Salon, Modesto, Calif.; JENNIFER BRICKL, Especially Nails by Jennifer, Madison, Wis.; COCO HAYANO, Ville de CoCo, Honolulu, Hawaii; LORRAINE DIANA TISDALE, NailMania, Goose Creek, S.C.; JEN HLADKI, California Nail & Spa Supply, Citrus Heights, Calif.; and YELENA KAKUSCHKE, Absolutely Nailart Inc., Weston, Fla.

Nail Art photography by Kelly Bracken

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International Sensations: Swedish Nail Art

Our friends at Swedish nail magazine naglar i norden turned us on to two nail sensations in Europe.  Ukrainian-born Iryna Giblett lives in Stockholm, Sweden, where she runs the popular nail salon Iryna’s Nails. She’s been a nail tech for eight years and has trained with EZ Flow, Christio, and Kinetics Professional Nail Systems. Check out even more of Giblett’s nail designs at www.irynasnails.com.   Margarita Belska is an international educator for Kinetics Professional Nail Systems and recently opened her own nail school in London, where she’s now based. Check out even more of Belska’s nail designs at www.margaritabelska.com.

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Tags: INTERNATIONAL, NAIL ART

Mini-Masterpiece Contest Winners Revealed

For the second year in a row, the extraordinary talent of nail tech Dawn Minton won over the judges of NAILS’ annual Mini-Masterpiece Contest.  Minton, a tech at A New Beginning Salon & Spa in Rensselaer, Ind., took third place as well. Amy Butler of Paradise Hair & Nails in Casper, Wyo., earned a second-place win. Both Butler and Minton chose a work of Pablo Picasso as their inspiration.  A big thank you and a round of applause go to everyone who entered. You can enjoy a sampling of their fine artwork on the next few pages.

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Tags: NAIL ART

Pardon My French

Break free of the usual pink-and-white constraints with this creative gallery of alternative French nail art styles. Get inspired with bold colors, unique filing, and clever smile lines. Photography by Kelly Bracken.

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Tags: NAIL ART, POLISHING TECHNIQUES

NAILS Cover Tech Contest - Years 2004 to 2006

In the year 2000, the editors of NAILS decided it would be fun to have a nail technician reader create the cover for one issue and so we started the Cover Tech Contest. Every year, we get hundreds of beautiful entries, creative concepts, and astonishing photographs. Browse through the best of the contests through the years. If you're interested in learning how to submit material for the next Cover Tech Contest, contact Judy.Lessin@bobit.com for details.

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Tags: NAIL ART

Show Those Toes

With summertime heating up, clients are going to be eager to show off some bare feet and cool their heels, and what better way to sport the look than with some fun and fashionable acrylic toenail art.

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Tags: NAIL ART, SEASONAL STYLES